Many people are familiar with the Green Bay Packers Lambeau Leap, but far fewer have had the chance to witness the Boston Marathon Logan Limp. That, of course, is a description of the way in which tens of thousands of runners clad in marathon attire hobble around Boston's Logan airport in the hours and days after the race each April. Is it worthwhile to sacrifice your gait for such an experience? After having the chance to participate in the event and develop my own limp this week, I agree wholeheartedly that it is something everyone should do.

My Boston Marathon experience was everything it was cracked up to be, and I am so glad that I didn't end up losing sight of my goal along the way. Qualifying for the race can become an obsession for many people and it leads others to wonder why it is so seemingly important. Of course, some people strive towards benchmarks simply because they exist, and I often fall into that category. However, after having the chance to run Boston this week, I can fully understand the value of the experience. It's not just another marathon. It's like a celebration of the sport led by elite athletes, inspiring mortals and hundreds of thousands of amazing fans.

We got a sense for the pride and hospitality of the city of Boston during the three days preceding the marathon as we visited local restaurants, attended a Red Sox game and went to the expo at Hynes Convention Center. It was at those events that I got my first taste of the fact that marathon weekend is truly a big event, not just for a few running aficionados, but for the whole city of Boston. I was still a bit skeptical, having run four previous marathons where the average local could not have cared less about the race (and probably would have opted not to have the road closures, given the choice). During the race in which I set my personal record, by the time I reached Mile 18 the bands were packing up their drums, the volunteers were chatting instead of handing out water and there were very few spectators left at the finish line. I had no idea what would be in store for me on Marathon Monday.

I'll spare you the mile-by-mile recount of the race; you can find no less than 1,000 websites and blogs that will offer you all of the details you want. Some things are consistent amongst all of those recaps. Yes, you can hear the Wellesley girls screaming from half a mile away. Yes, the Newton hills aren't as steep as you think, but your legs are shot by that point and that is the deceptively difficult thing about the course. Yes, you can see that Citgo sign for what seems like five miles and you never feel like you're getting any closer. Yes, there are hundreds of thousands of fans lining the streets for almost the whole distance, especially as you approach Copley Square. Yes, the Kenyans are amazingly fast and Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher made the Americans proud this year as well.

However, those aren't the things that were the most memorable for me. I'll never forget the hospitality of the woman in Hopkinton who opens her home every year to marathoners looking for a little warmth before the start of the race. I'll never forget having the opportunity to watch the start of the elite women's race 28 minutes before ours began. I'll never forget the feeling of being packed in a corral of hundreds of nervous runners who all start at your same exact race pace from the get-go. I'll never forget the sinking sensation of being passed by ten people at a time while reminding myself that I was concurrently passing another ten people on my other side. I'll never forget the crowd support, especially on Heartbreak Hill where I found myself high-fiving dozens of kids who took a sincere interest in our sport. I'll never forget finding my friend and training partner Angel out on the course and having the opportunity to run with him for the last 18 miles. I'll never forget saying hi to Dick and Rick Hoyt as we passed them along the way. Most of all, I'll never forget the thunderous sound of the enormous crowd in Copley Square. The enthusiasm of those people gave amateurs like us the opportunity to feel like rockstars for a day.

Should you try to qualify for the Boston Marathon? There's no question in my mind that you should. If you are unsure of your ability, I would still recommend the charity entry program or at least being a witness to the event someday. Most of us will never get the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl or the World Series, but you can experience the Boston Marathon.